An apparatus for performing contact printing of a magnetic transition pattern in a magnetic recording medium, comprising: (a) a stamper/imprinter including a body formed of at least one magnetic material having a high saturation magnetization B.sub.sat and a high permeability, including an imprinting surface adapted to be placed in intimate contact with a surface of a magnetic layer, the imprinting surface comprised of a plurality of patterned areas which separate a plurality of areas which are not patterned, each of the areas which is not patterned being provided with at least one of: (i) mechanical reinforcing means for preventing deformation of the body when the imprinting surface is urged into contact with the surface of the magnetic layer; and (ii) gas venting means for facilitating removal of air or other gas from between the imprinting surface and the surface of the magnetic layer when the former is urged into contact with the latter.